The demonstration has included live video conferencing using quantum-key-encrypted signals.
The Indian space agency has successfully demonstrated free-space Quantum Communication over a distance of 300 metres with several technologies developed within the country.
“For the first time in the country, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully demonstrated free-space Quantum Communication over a distance of 300 metres,” ISRO said.
According to ISRO, a number of key technologies were developed indigenously to accomplish this major feat, which included the use of indigenously developed NAVIC receiver for time synchronization between the transmitter and receiver modules, and gimbal mechanism systems instead of bulky large-aperture telescopes for optical alignment.
The demonstration has included live video conferencing using quantum-key-encrypted signals.
For the first time in the country, ISRO has successfully demonstrated free-space Quantum Communication over a distance of 300 m.
— ISRO (@isro) March 22, 2021
For details visit: https://t.co/6o5qDoAP1Q pic.twitter.com/9NdNrASQWr
This is a major milestone achievement for unconditionally secured satellite data communication using quantum technologies, ISRO said on Monday.
The Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology underpins Quantum Communication technology that ensures unconditional data security by virtue of the principles of quantum mechanics, which is not possible with the conventional encryption systems.
The conventional cryptosystems used for data-encryption rely on the complexity of mathematical algorithms, whereas the security offered by quantum communication is based on the laws of Physics.
Therefore, quantum cryptography is considered as ‘future-proof’, since no future advancements in computational power can break quantum-cryptosystem, ISRO said.
The free-space QKD was demonstrated at Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, between two line-of-sight buildings within the campus. The experiment was performed at night, in order to ensure that there is no interference from the direct sunlight.
The experiment is a major breakthrough towards ISRO’s goal of demonstrating Satellite-Based Quantum Communication (SBQC), where ISRO is gearing up to demonstrate the technology between two Indian ground stations.
Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.